The two-lane, five-stage Three Gorges Dam Ship Locks have recorded 223,000 lock operations as of the end of March, according to the Three Gorges Navigation Authority.
More than 1.1 million ships have passed through the locks, transporting 2.37 billion metric tons of cargo. If loaded into 40-foot containers (with an effective payload of 26 tons each), the cargo would circle the equator 27.7 times when placed end to end. The ship locks have greatly facilitated the flow of goods between China’s southwest hinterlands and coastal regions, enabling the Yangtze River to deliver its full economic potential.
The Three Gorges Dam Ship Locks have the world’s most complex inland lock system, featuring the greatest number of consecutive lock chambers, the highest total head, and the largest head between stages. Since they opened on June 18, 2003, the Three Gorges reservoir region has seen better shipping conditions in its channels and ports, meeting the increasing need for transporting bulk commodities, such as construction materials and ores. With the locks’ throughput constantly increasing, the main line of the Yangtze River maintains its position as the world’s busiest inland waterway for freight.
The ship locks have stably operated for nearly 23 years. They have handled more than 100 million tons of cargo for 12 straight years and more than 150 million tons for four straight years. (....)